Another nickname vs formal name discussion

[flannelfish]

Due in few months. Our favourite name is Kitty. Have loved it for ages but do have slight reservation that it is a bit of a nickname (but not fussed about cat connotations!). Don't really see the point in putting a formal name on birth certificate though if it's not going to be used and although I like the name Katherine, it wouldn't be up there with my faves.

Other names we quite like are:
Harriet (but surname begins with R so bit of a mouthful?)
Lois
Elizabeth
Susannah

Any thoughts on concerns above or any other suggestions for names??

If my parents had wanted to call me Kitty I would have been eternally grateful if they put Katherine on the birth certificate, and pretty peeved if they hadn't. I see no harm in giving the child a choice of name options when they get older, and I don't think it's confusing at all for bank accounts etc.

go with kitty!

I have a nickname which is somewhat different to my full name (like 'Kitty - Katherine' or 'Hattie - Harriet'), and it really isn't in the least bit confusing to have the two - I see them as identical. In fact, I was literally baffled by a conversation I had the other day with an elderly relative who always thinks of me as 'nickname' where she said to me "'full name' is so lovely, don't you wish you were called that?" and I was thinking "but I am called that, what are you talking about?"

I wouldn't worry about the confusion aspect - I've never in my life been confused by having bank accounts / doctors as 'full name', and I don't think my parents were.

I actually like to be able to draw a line with people as well, and to be able to choose who gets to call me by my shortened version of my name.

Difficult one.
Personally I prefer Catherine to Kitty, and that spelling too!!!!
How about Katie as it seems more similar to Kitty? There again if you are certain to call her Kitty then perhaps just go for it.

Totally agree with GrendalsMum. I've always had a family nickname and used my full name at school/work, and only a select few people are allowed to call me my family name. No confusion (except when people try and call me by another shortening of my name which I don't use). My children both have formal full names and prefer the short versions (for now - they are 9 and 10) again they have no problem with using their formal names for formal occasions. It's not particularly unusual to have both a short and a long name despite the current fashion to just go for the nickname. Many people when they become adults do drop their family nickname/short form. My big sister for example was always known as a diminutive of her formal name, but as a teenager she decided she wasn't so keen and then changed to another short form of her name for friends, and the full name for work. If you can give your child the option I really can't see any downside. Kitty is known to be a shortening for Katharine/Catherine so I really can't see that as a problem.

I like Elisabeth/Elizabeth (and it's many diminutives) and I like Susannah a lot. Not so keen on Harriet (quite like Hatty) and don't like Lois very much.